What strategy should Clinton and Obama use in tomorrows debate?

[PresidentObama]

I think Senator Obama will play the role in the CNN Texas Debate tomorrow night that Senator Clinton played earlier in the year: the inevitable frontrunner! Remember all the early debates where Senator Clinton walked on egg shells trying to safely walk her way to the nomination? She avoided as many political landmines as possible, and was very careful in what she said and how she said it. I think Senator Obama will walk into tomorrows debate with the agenda of coming out of the debate without making any mistakes. I don't think he'll gain any ground necessarily, but by trying to avoid mistakes or getting into negative back and forth's he'll come out of the debate still appearing as the inevitable frontrunner going into March 4th!

Senator Clinton, I believe, will nail home the experience point she's been using on the trail. And I think she'll bring up the fact one of Obama supporters was on Hardball, and couldn't name an accomplishment. She has to hit home that she believes she's more experienced, ready to lead from day one which is one of her talking points, and has more answers and solutions. She has to present Senator Obama as too inexperienced, not ready, and an empty suit. I'm talking in political manuevers here, don't attack for me calling Obama those things. I think she has to use those talking points as a political move. I think she'll be a tad bit more negative than the last few debates, and try and corner Obama into making a mistake that she can use on the campaign trail. She has to get him to mess up, and effectively paint him as inexperienced and not ready.

From a strategy stand point, these are the goals I think Obama and Clinton must accomplish tomorrow night. What do you guys think? Think outside of the box, and don't attack either candidate. Even if you support Obama, present it as if you were the Clinton people. What would you paint Obama as? What storyline would you carry throughout the debate? And Clinton people, same thing. If you worked for Senator Obama, what's the goals for tomorrow night?

This should be an interesting thread, granted it doesn't turn into another meaningless flamebait.

So let's hear it. Give us the campaign strategy :)

[PresidentObama]

1. kick for conversation other than McCain sex scandal n/t

[anigbrowl]

2. Simple enough

She should try and belittle his accomplishments. He should try and goad her into making a nasty remark.

I don't think this will be as polite a debate as the one before Super Tuesday. My beloved and I have it marked on the caldendar as 'Dem smackdown in a steel cage', and we expect to be entertained...or else!

[PresidentObama]

4. My father and I plan on watching it. We're calling it the Texas Bloodbath.

[XemaSab]

5. We need drinking game suggestions

:beer:

[PresidentObama]

7. I'm game.

:toast:

[Diamonique]

3. Clinton has to...

... get Obama to make a mistake. But she'll have to do it carefully so as not to make herself look bad or desperate in the process.

Obama has to look knowledgeable, calm, and presidential. He has to somehow let his CiC capabilities show through.

[PresidentObama]

6. See that's the challenge. Make Obama make a mistake without looking desperate.

Remember when Edwards attached to Obama to try and paint him and Obama as the change candidates and Hillary as the status quo candidate? It was a risky strategy, and Edwards tried like hell to effectively paint that picture--but it didn't work.

I'm not sure how Hillary can paint Obama as inexperienced and back him into a corner to make a mistake without it backfiring, but it should be interesting to watch. I support Hillary and I know she's capable of turning this thing around, so it's going to be great to see what strategy she uses tomorrow night.

[XemaSab]

8. I've tried that before at work

and yeah, it's a fine line between obviously baiting someone, playing it right, and being too subtle; making them lose their temper with righteous indignation, sending them down in flames, or having them rise above it.

[PresidentObama]

9. Yeah. It's going to be interesting how Hillary trys to back Obama into a corner.

Or better yet, if she can.

Maybe tomorrow will surprise us, and it'll be civil.

But I'm expecting a Texas Bloodbath!